15 November 2016

14 November 2016

15:20
This is a very cool city. Get here before it changes. Which I predict is sooner than later. 3 years tops. The machine is biting down hard and sinking their teeth into it. I've come across a few outsiders that are trying to push their culture on the people/places/etc. I hope the Vietnamese can hold it off and have a second victory against this intrusion. This force is much stronger than any gun or bomb. Only time will tell...#greed #danang #vietnam

12 November 2016

10:21

10 November 2016

13:25
A great place to lose your mind...
Google Translate by Google, Inc.
https://appsto.re/us/kT-Ty.i

9 November 2016

10:17

7 November 2016

22:43
My Bud.

12:43
The rain clouds broke today. Gorgeous.

12:40
I've seen this font somewhere...

12:29

12:25

5 November 2016

19:31
Culinary tour. Pulling up by the bus loads.. You pick your live seafood fresh from the sea and then you're off to the races.

31 October 2016

30 October 2016

17:11
One of the many weapons the French used to colonize... #vietnam #larue #eyeofthetiger

10:38
Similar to the Forerunner with more rewards...

10:30
Lesson of the Day: Start from the top down... ☯️😇☝🏿️#pagoda #danang #vietnam

10:29

10:26
#sleeping #giant #tattoo

10:01
Sunday Funday 🙏🏽 #church #ceremony #danang #vietnam

09:36

09:12
The motorbike/gas station culture here is fascinating...🏍💨😜

29 October 2016

18:53
Roasting geese street side...

18:47
Lol

16:44
Found the peops! The guy paddling in the boat is a lifeguard.

16:25
Charbroiled oysters fresh from the sea. I will be partaking tomorrow evening...

15:20
Lol

15:17
Shuffling 😜☯️✌️️❤️

15:12
The first White Swan must have been a runaway success 😁.

15:08
#acnetwork

15:01
#laundry

14:58
#prep

14:29
"Call it what you want but it's still Frito Pie..." #byo #vietnam #taco #bestjourni

13:43
#jungle #reception #lofi

13:42
I'm not sure Vietnam needs this...

13:28
I dig #fishing #towns #danang #vietnam #bestjourni

10:18
Universal...

10:09
I bet this is a happy school 😜

28 October 2016

17:03
#street #food #bestjourni

16:14
Duh.

16:10
Nature's trinkets...

15:10
Off the beaten path...#danang #vietnam #bestjourni

11:37
#street #lunch #bestjourni

27 October 2016

15:48
I am settled in here in Da Nang, an emerging city in Central Vietnam of just over 1 million people. Inexpensive, mellow vibe, beautiful beaches. Check it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danang?wprov=sfsi1 #danang #vietnam #bestjourni

26 October 2016

16:22
Sweet.

14:10
Pretty cool carvings I stumbled upon.

12:25
Looks like everyone left for the Winter lol. Had the whole place to myself 😜...#recharge #ghostbeach #danang #vietnam #bestjourni

10:12
#safetyfirst

05:43
I arrived to Da Nang this morning. A little turbulence in the air but a beautiful beachside town nevertheless. I believe I will rest my laurels here for a bit...

25 October 2016

19:22
At a bus stop complete with meal and all. I have met a new Friend named Anh, a fellow traveler going to Da Nang as well. He has offered to help me find work. This is such a gracious and friendly country! I believe I am developing a little hunch in my posture 😳. I like it...

12:25
My new friend Lợi giving me a lift to the bus station before I embark to Da Nang to dip my toes in the water. #hanoi #motorbike #selfies #safetyfirst #bestjourni

09:16
Strong bladder.

24 October 2016

23 October 2016

15:48
Vietnamese Karaoke.

12:43
A very cool looking tiger tooth necklace.

11:15
I am staying with a very nice couple in Hanoi and they graciously invited me to a neighborhood party yesterday on the floor of their flat. Good times were had by all...#couchsurfing #hanoi #vietnam #bestjourni

09:44
Traditional Vietnamese coffee

08:46
#artisan #hometeambuilding #vietnam

22 October 2016

12:18
New Friends. #hanoi #vietnam #bestjourni

08:27
The underbelly of Hanoi.

08:23
A little dog wrangling...

08:19
#smart #footrower #bestjourni

06:17
Have arrived in Hanoi and looking forward to the next leg of this journi...

21 October 2016

12:39
A great Muslim restaurant in Nanning. Interesting concept here of stabbing your paid ticket with the order and the cook's prepare it. Good stuff.

20 October 2016

19:23
This is a Jumbotron about the size of a football field...#big #windows #error

14:33
Never too early to celebrate the rea$on for the $ea$on in non-religious, non-capitalist China...#christmas #holiday #modern #china

14:28
One foot in. One foot out. #nanning #china #siesta #bestjourni

19 October 2016

21:01
Wok n Roll...

20:50
Check 1,2...#shymc #bestjourni

07:25
#safety #first #bestjourni

07:06
Market day in Nanning...

18 October 2016

10:48
Gnawing on a chicken foot...#bestjourni

17 October 2016

22:47
These subways can get a little blurry at times. This should be the last time I encounter one here in China for a while...
I am in route to the Nanjing Railway Station to embark on a 27 hour journi to Nanning, in south central China (blue dot on map).
From there, it's Visa business at the consulate for a few days before entering Vietnam for the #bestjourni a boy could hope for. I will be staying with a Chinese couple in Nanning arranged via #couchsurfing.
The quest continues along the wish-path. Stay tuned...#nanjing #nanning #china #vietnam

10 October 2016

8 October 2016

4 October 2016

14:54

3 October 2016

20:40
This place is grrrrrreat...

20:40
Maybe a little long for a name of a bar...#smwaccb

20:07
Wow.

1 October 2016

21:25
Holiday in Nanjing...

11:35
Holiday travel in China at the train station in Shanghai. Insanity. I'm done with the city lol.
I'm negotiating for a teaching position in the southern part of a rural part of the country in Yunnan Province about 100 miles from the Vietnam border.
Lots of rivers, lakes, indigenous and even a wine growing region in the area that looks promising 😜.
Stay tuned...

11:24
#kungfukowboy

29 September 2016

21:04
#lostintranslation

28 September 2016

21:44
#stayfocused

18:06
Teaching a little "vocab" 😜

15:48
My first Chinese surprise birthday party 😳.

15:27
Motorbikes as far as the eye can see...Wow.

14:35
A common fixture here in Shanghai. I read where in the mid 90's I believe, during a huge growth phase, HALF of ALL of the cranes in the world were in Shanghai! Wow. It shows...
The development and density of people is almost overwhelming but I guess they manage it as well as anyone could. Impressive to say the least...

27 September 2016

21:26
Late night street theater...

21:05
After & Before

14:29
Opted for wind versus strings today...

26 September 2016

09:36
Meat Buns to Break the Fast...

09:32
Ahhh, to be a cat...

25 September 2016

11:31
One Team One Dream...

24 September 2016

11:57
The Chinese love Mike Tyson! He's in the movie https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ip_Man_3, which won all kinds of awards at the 2016 Shanghai International Film Festival.

22 September 2016

09:06
No.

08:44
Early morning jam...

21 September 2016

16:06
What a great year...

15:58
too dark to see...

15:33
#shanghaistroll

19 September 2016

14:40
#prep

17 September 2016

18:21
Lol

14 September 2016

18:32
The Eye of Nanjing. An amazing pedestrian only bridge constructed for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Wow.

01:38
Lol

13 September 2016

21:04
#oldschool

12 September 2016

19:25
A Monday night stroll thru Shanghai...

18:27
The secret to a good pizza is allowing it time to cool...

12:25
This place is jamming for Lunch. Menu board on the wall. No registers. 3 employees total.

12:20
Cool architecture.

12:16
First Chinese haircut. High and tight...

11 September 2016

12:14
Lining up for Mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooncake?wprov=sfsi1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival?wprov=sfsi1

10 September 2016

21:45
From China to the World at a $1.20 US for a 20oz.+ beer. Don't mind if I do...

19:53
Skate or Die

19:50
Dancing at the Shanghai Train Station. Saturday night.

9 September 2016

20:48
Yummy. #vegetarian

20:38
The Jina'an Temple is right next to the center where I teach. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jing'an_Temple?wprov=sfsi1

14:51
Lego school lol

8 September 2016

09:18
A little Teacher Training...

7 September 2016

18:04
Nanjing, China

6 September 2016

16:24
First speed train. 188mph.

12:57
Back in the People's Republic....

5 September 2016

19:28
Stayed at this little hostel in Hong Kong. Not much to write Home about but it did sport a little Kung fu dojo and is owned by a student of the same master that taught Bruce Lee. #hongkongsux

18:51
Who knew Houston was known for it's leather?

18:29
Some scenery coming from the island of the HK airport via bus. This was the highlight of this short trip...

16:19
Descent into Hong Kong. The runway is on the edge of the island...

10:01
1 of 2 airports in Shanghai and this is 1 of 2 major terminals at the Pudong Airport.
I am in route to Hong Kong for a bit of passport biz. I am here on a 10 year Chinese Tourist Visa but must leave mainland China every 60 days. A great excuse to visit different parts on this side of the globe such as Taiwan, Vietnam, etc.
This all until I get my Work Visa for my new teaching gig in Shanghai which is much more to my liking and spirit...

4 September 2016

08:25
A little morning street art.

3 September 2016

19:07
Shanghai 2016

1 September 2016

20:57
Lol

14:23
#creepy

10:19
Still keeping time...

31 August 2016

16:26
Shanghai. 59th Floor.

30 August 2016

18:54
A little window shopping...

28 August 2016

08:02
Wow.

27 August 2016

07:53
#cool

07:35
I believe this bike has been chained here since 74'...

07:30
Bamboo used on a high rise construction project in the central part of Shanghai, China in 2016. Cool.

07:22
Why not dance a jig at 7am?

07:22
Word.

05:46
I have arrived. One week ago today, I slept in the lobby of a subway station all night in far west China not knowing my next move.
Now I sit atop the skyline on the 38th floor of the J.W. Marriott in Shanghai, China. The wonderous turns of the road...

26 August 2016

18:00
New friends.

25 August 2016

19:46
I can't make this stuff up. For a second time, I have bought a "Standing" ticket and told that was all that was left. So I post up sitting on my pack in that little area in between cars. I get curious looks before the Attendants send someone over that somewhat speaks English. He asks where I'm going. I say Shanghai, which is 36 hours & 1300 miles away. He punches in his translator app asking if I would like a Sleeper. For an extra $35US, I am afforded a little more comfort. The pleasures of being a single white male in The People's Republic of China... Very hospitable people, at least to my demographic 😜.

18:09
Getting on the train at the Kunming Station. The same station I arrived at 5 days ago from Beijing. It doesn't pay to look behind you. It's usually a clusterfuck. Keep moving forward...
It's like the Running of the Bulls getting onto the train as everyone is jocking for good seats and luggage space.

13:19
My way of communicating my desires lol. Need a taxi to the train station and a train ticket to Shanghai.

12:12
#streetcorn

11:58
Hotel receipt. Works for me...

24 August 2016

23:52
Interesting turn of events. I reached out to a Mentor of mine & asked if he had any biz in China. Turns out he's gonna be in Shanghai on Saturday & asked me to join him for the week. We're gonna look @ new equipment & meet with his China Partners 😳. This could be interesting. Stay tuned..
In the meantime, got stranded in Kunming last night as there were 0 train tickets available on the "Last Train to Shanghai" (good song title 😁). I got a ticket leaving today on Thursday @ 7pm (it's 13 hours AHEAD here) & was gonna do the street thing.
I'm wondering around @ midnight looking 4 this Hostel that has vanished & was just gonna sit it out near the station. This guy insists I get on back & he'll find me a place.
We buzz around to 4 or 5 different places within my budget & everything was full. We end up @ the Qianlvchen Hotel & I made a decision to splurge. Besides, I can't be looking road tired when I hook up with my Friend. Even got a hot Bfast buffet. Shanghai bound...#safety1st

16:23
Adios Dali...

14:42
This ain't your Grandma's sweet iced tea lol. I'm becoming a hot tea drinker 😳. Serious biz here in China. You put the leaves in that little filter in the bottom of the water bottle, poor boiling water inside and Voila, Hot Tea! Pretty nifty...

12:13
All 3 for $5US. Best bargain yet...
Vegetarian buffet at Tibetan temple that tastes as good as any steak I've had lol. $.75US. Second best bargain...
Peeling potatoes for the night shift...

23 August 2016

23:07
New friends...

19:41
Pre vs. Post

19:38
ADA compliant

19:28
#facebook

19:24
Using the sickle & hammer as bulletpoints lol.

18:23
#freeballin #comfy #grubtime

22 August 2016

14:57
What a novel idea. The trash truck rolls around with a siren like the old ice cream trucks when we were kids. Everyone runs out with their waste and dumps it. Duh.

13:19
Definitely the highlight of my trip so far. A Buddhist Temple run by monks and they have a lunch & dinner vegetarian buffet each day.
It costs $.75US ($5RMB) and tasted awesome! There is chanting over the loud speakers and the place was very peaceful.
Complete with a scale outside lol.

10:10
My view this morning...

21 August 2016

22:05
My domain for the next few nights. A very peaceful cool Hostel. I've got a comfortable bed in a dorm room all to myself with a private bathroom and western toilet 😳. All for $15US for 3 nights.
I'm gonna light here while I do my homework on entering Myanmar to the West. Supposed to have a Visa to enter but who's got time or money for that? Stay tuned...

21:56
Word.

20:49
These guys behind me were jamming Boyz in the Hood by Eazy E lol.

19:57
I popped into this little joint called Gala and these guys are jamming Creep by Radiohead.
Dali beer probably brewed in Beijing 😜.
Complete with a rose petal entrance.

19:45
These guys were dancing to some techno while milling flour in this barrel lol.

19:44
I'm gonna take a shitload of pics tomorrow but Old Town Dali is one of the coolest places I have ever seen. Lots of Chinese tourists but it has a real cool vibe. Lots of authenticity and not a lot of hounding and hustling.
There were two handfuls of bars that were playing live music that was more rock/folk than anything. One woman was jamming Jolene by Dolly. Groovy place. Lots of handmade items like clothing, jewelry and leather stuff. There were bone/horn combs that were very cool. Pics coming soon...

19:36
A new Starbucks :( being built in old town Dali, one of the Top 5 places I have ever been. Lots of pics coming tomorrow.

18:03
Lol

17:33
Rollin thru Old Town Dali.

17:00
This place has been discovered...

16:35
The Buddhists have sacrifices such as this all along the sidewalks and such.

16:28
Pepper plants growing to make braided pepper strands in the back of a house.

16:22
Farmer hand planting seeds one by one.

15:53
#spiders

12:33
Puji Buddhist Temple. Notice the third eye and halo in the murals. I'm headed to Myanmar (formerly Burma) in a few days to seriously dig into some meditation.

12:29
A cool hillside village.

11:59
Fresh walnuts from a street vendor.

11:51
😳

20 August 2016

22:07
Made it to Dali at the back door of Tibet and scored a sweet little room.
It's got a shitter, shower and washer for my clothes all in one!

18:30
A couple of funny signs.

16:48
This place is trippin over mushrooms. Longchuan, China in the Yunnan Province. Obviously shroom country.

14:13
These guys are crazy. This is a huge water bong and they rip the filter off of their cigarette and smoke it. The second guy was a bus driver that stopped here and got out to burn one. It was raining and he had his Handler hold the umbrella for him while he finished his smoke. Lol.

13:49
#pimp

11:05
#outdoorbutchering

09:45
#racecardriver

09:17
These are my last architecture/building pics but I can't get over the attention to detail. Very impressive.

09:16
Too early for ice cream or I would have given it a try.

09:14
When the pack gets a little heavy, I will think of these two that are both at least double my age 😜.

09:00
Food really is the universal language. This little creation is a pancake type thing that hit the spot for breakfast.
Batter, sugar, egg, oil, hot pan and there you have it. Very feeling and tasty for $0.53US. #street
And this guy rocking the woc at at lunch.

08:48
Lots of older men are out stretching and doing yoga and such next to the river early in the morning.
This second guy was a trip. I watched him for 15-20 minutes. He was doing all kinds of exercises to this Chinese disco music, all the while watching the bottom of these steps into the water where he would scoop these small eel looking creatures out every once in a while.

08:37
Reminds me of this song. Go get it now. Classic Roger Miller.
River in the rain
Sometimes at night you look
like a long white train
Winding your way away
somewhere
River I Love You, don't you care?
If you're on the run
Winding some place just trying
to find the sun
Whether the sunshine, weather
the rain
River I Love You just the same.
-RM

08:30
Super friendly woman at the subway station in Kunming giving me a letter in Chinese to get on down the road.

08:07
This is MUCH more manageable compared to Beijing.

19 August 2016

23:46
Train Attendant saluting as we rolled into our station. These guys take this stuff serious.

18:28
Stocking up. This little snack/produce cart comes down the aisle every few hours.

18:13
#duckfarm

18:02
#scarecrows

09:28
This guy puts in a little meat snack in his fake, MSG laden ramen.

08:49
The dominant toilet in China. You gotta be a squatter to make here 😳...

08:37
Breakfast. $2.25US. Complete with a poached egg and all...

08:34
In the Hunan Province about 500 miles from my destination. This is the China I am looking for. I could teach English here 😃.

18 August 2016

19:46
Wicked moon on the flipside. These pics don't do it justice...

19:05
#peddlers

18:39
Zhengzhou from my sleeper...

18:34
A wicked looking sun in the countryside.

14:02
Hanging with the crew...

12:29
This was my original perch opposite this smoking spot on one of the last tickets available on this train. STANDING lol.
So I'm talking to one of the crew and I ask him about Tibet and he thinks I say "To Bed". He says to wait a bit.
Long story short, he tells me to go to Car 14. I head up there and this young lady in the white shirt comes up and says she hears I need some help.
After a little haggling, I end up with a Sleeper. Ahh, the turn of the curve in travel...

12:02
This is the journey I'm making. Roughly 1,300 miles.

11:23
Scalding hot water lol. Lots of fake ramen being consumed in this train station...

09:48
Eastern Ingenuity. #movingproduce

09:45
Damn! Shoulder strap broke. Omen or Blessing...

09:31
These guys know how to go BIG. The Beijing Railway Station. An absolute MAD HOUSE...
Looks like it's Tibet. Caught a train headed West to Kunming. It looked good on the map 😜.
Gonna go trek up into The Himalayas and learn to meditate with some nature 😳. True story. Stay tuned...

07:15
An Omen or Blessing? Rain on my departure from Beijing.
My teaching career is over. I had to bump. Too much city for me. I can't help but think that enlightenment lies ahead out in the countryside.
The decision now is Mongolia or Tibet? My Passport expires in 26 days so Mongolia would give me another 60 days in China. We shall see which way the road leads...

17 August 2016

11:55
Catching a little scum...

11:46

16 August 2016

19:52
This is a Caution area on the road that is common but it looks like a carnival or something with the lights and such.

19:24
Yummy.

15 August 2016

12:45
"Wekipedia" Foods lol. These guys are the kings of the ripoff.
My first Live Sushi Conveyor...

12:35
#bikes

11:56
A girl's gotta make a buck...

09:00
Headed to do an audio recording in English for a little part time gig at a recording studio on my day off. $40US cash for 1 1/2 hours of reading sentences. EZ money...
My first sight of graffiti at a Subway Station along the way...
Nothing like helping the Regime in their propaganda efforts!

13 August 2016

18:10
Yum, ox intestines in duck blood.
This second place is all things pork. The entire store is filled with pork products. Pork is to China what chicken is to the US and more...

10 August 2016

20:54
Lol

9 August 2016

16:45
Linkin Park seems to be big here with the Asians...
This is the parcel delivery system in the neighborhoods similar to FedEx. These guys are forever delivering packages...

15:19
Trip to central Beijing...

8 August 2016

18:45
Chinese Valentine's Day is today.

18:10
Getting a bit burnt out on Chinese fare. Good burgers at this brewpub.

4 August 2016

13:38
Some Subway directionals...

3 August 2016

20:59
I enjoy these little mystery meats snacks...
$2.41 US meal.

19:45
#minions

16:57
Getting ready for class...

30 July 2016

21:37
Streetside view outside my apartment complex.

21:19
Give me a "C"...

21:01
Not quite ready to belly up to one of those street tables alone. This is my seat and fare for the evening. This is drinkable yogurt that is like a sweet buttermilk. Yummy. Some orange drink that may in fact be malt liquor.

20:33
Witty...

20:23
These seem to still be in play here although everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, from 10 to 110 has a cellphone and is glued to it.

20:07
If you say so...

19:47
This seems to be a phenomenon at parks around the city. Some sort of senior, dance, exercise thing going on to Chinese music. Kind of a Far East Curves...

19:47
I love how China brings it out to the street...

19:42
Out front of my apartment. The only foreigner for miles...😳

19:41
Creepy paintings in my apartment elevator.

19:41
Gas notice on my neighbor's door. Socialism my ass...

25 July 2016

21:36
Universal. Military Marketing.

21:24
Rush Hour Subway. Wow.

20:19
Adorable class tonight. The second from the left is a little shit. Don't let her fool you...

24 July 2016

20:09
Make note of "Bathroom". 😳

23 July 2016

18:17
#nofilter That's the sun I believe. Smog is an issue here in Beijing, to say the least...

16:39
My first class. 9-11 year olds. They are smarter than me 😳.

07:56
First day on the Subway alone. Baby steps...I passed Training and will begin observing classes for a week or so. Almost a Maestro...😳

22 July 2016

09:04
I've heard that during big rains, people have been known to fall into manholes and disappear. 😳

21 July 2016

09:03
Parents can watch (not hear) their kids in the classrooms. I am working for www.bestlearning.cn. So far so good. It is an English immersion school so only English is spoken in each center.
I am training this week but will have a Chinese counterpart teaching with me when I begin actually teaching next week in a classroom. There are 10 centers throughout Beijing and I'll be assigned to one specific one tomorrow.
If China isn't the dominant Superpower today, they will be soon. Chinese children are super busy with all kinds of classes, schools, etc. It's fascinating learning the different customs and ways of the Chinese people.
Beijing is a BIG city (20+ million ppl) and would not have been my first choice but I'm just going with the flow. It's fairly inexpensive to live here regarding food, transportation, etc. I'm a little nervous about Housing as I have to find a place to live next week on my own 😳. Stay tuned...